fantasy art and tree chatter of aquariann

EDIT: Giveaway is officially closed. Congratulations to the randomly chosen 177th commenter, Pippirose! Start chanting to the goddesses of random, dear readers - only one of you will possess the luck to win this beautiful black crystal necklace by Shannon of Gypsy Moon Art Studio . The magical mix of Swarovski crystals and intricate wirework enchants the eye. A swirly framework of antiqued copper wire, accented with copper beads and black seed beads, frames a black Baroque Swarovski Crystal. The copper pendant is buffed to a warm, earthy glow and hangs from an 18 inch copper necklace. Two Februarys ago, I won one of Shannon's jewelry giveaways . The win felt more like fate than good fortune - she was giving away a pair of copper earrings to celebrate her and her baby's birthday, and announced me as the winner the day before my birthday! Go aquarian power! Now I'm blessed to host a giveaway for her. She is such a talented jewelry artist! Every piece is unique, from her werew...

"It wasn't a rock; it was a rock lobster!" - B-52s Flutter to my Wordless Wednesday Directory for a list of blogs that regularly host WW Linky Parties. Grab my button as a reminder to return next week for more photography fun! <a href="http://blog.aquariann.com/search/label/wordless%20wednesday" target="_blank"><img src="http://i532.photobucket.com/albums/ee329/aquariann/blog/wordless/125x125-wordless.jpg" alt="Wordless Wednesday" border="0" /></a>

"Hey jerk!" she yelled, banging on the front door. "Just because you moved out on your own doesn't mean you can ignore your family. Mom is worried sick about -" She cut off as the door creaked open. Her brother and his new roommates were so irresponsible. This wasn't the safest neighborhood to leave a house unlocked. Not like the boys had much worth stealing. She stepped inside and locked the door behind her. "Brian!" she called. She could hear gun fire spitting out of a television in the back bedroom. "Is that why you haven't returned mom's calls? You're too busy playing another House of the Dead marathon to put down the controller and pick up the phone! You better be wearing more than boxers because I'm coming back!" She strode through the messy living room, crunching over a bag of spilled potato chips and glowering at an overturned two-liter of soda. No way those slobs were ever going to get their security deposit back ...

Anyone else brave Black Friday? I'd like to thank whatever corporate marketing team's crazy idea it was to open their store on Thanksgiving night first - and to all those that followed and enticed shoppers to join in their moonlight madness. By the time Mom and I got to Kohl's this morning for our traditional shopping spree, there was no wait to checkout. Last year at sunrise the line wrapped around the entire building. We don't go to fight over limited toys or electronics, so trudging around last night with full bellies wouldn't have saved us any money. The 500+ early bird specials were still valid and there was certainly no danger of Kohl's running out of clothes. Mom and I didn't splurge much this year - but even shopping separately and buying only a few clothing articles each, we managed to pick out two of the very same shirts from their huge selection. Sometimes our similar tastes are eerie! We both collect winged being trinkets. My style is usually a h...

"It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit." - Robert Louis Stevenson Flutter to my Wordless Wednesday Directory for a list of blogs that regularly host WW Linky Parties. Grab my button as a reminder to return next week for more photography fun! <a href="http://blog.aquariann.com/search/label/wordless%20wednesday" target="_blank"><img src="http://i532.photobucket.com/albums/ee329/aquariann/blog/wordless/125x125-wordless.jpg" alt="Wordless Wednesday" border="0" /></a>

Save some stress and gas money by buying presents online this holiday season. You don't even have to wait until Cyber Monday to get great deals! Several Etsy sellers (including me) are offering discounts and coupon codes for the upcoming weekend so you can shop from the comfort of your own home instead of fighting for parking and standing in lines. Over 60,000 items are already tagged with Black Friday Etsy . SanDesign picked out handmade gift ideas for those that adore the color peridot as much as I do. Her Christmas guide includes Swarovski crystal jewelry, crocheted accessories and cell phone covers galore. My green dragon is also featured, and for that I am grateful. I am so thankful for all of you that support my art, whether you have money to buy it or not. Have a Happy Thanksgiving! Treasuries shared by readers between November 22 - November 28 Peridot Green Christmas Guide Itsy Bitsy Kidlet Giftlets Winter Whites Midnight ~ Roses~ On Fire For Handmade Team Co...

Does anyone else embrace the tradition to add a handmade Christmas ornament to their collection each year? Ruth and Deborah Nash, the mother and daughter team at Gingerly Spice have gently folded dozens of ribbon pine cone ornaments (like the silver and green striped one to the right) in a range of colors and glittery goodness to match any Christmas tree. Their holiday decorations would also make unique hostess gifts, especially to embellish a table centerpiece or tie as a bow on a present. The designing duo has always loved creating beautiful works of art and crafts to decorate their home and surroundings. 40 years of sewing experience and a lot of heart helps to make creations that enhance and enrich any decor with a touch of class. They purchase quality supplies from local craft and fabric stores and strive to make each work one of a kind, so no two items are exactly alike. Ruth and Deborah would like their customers to know that "We put it all together with love and care, tru...

EDIT: Giveaway is officially closed. Congratulations to the randomly chosen 78th commenter, Ľubaša! One lady will get to adorn herself with a one of a kind jewelry piece fit for an ice queen from a snowy wonderland. MaryAnne of MiddleEarths Jewels is giving away the wonderful Winter Garden cuff above. She hand wove, then hand felted bits of vintage lace and fabulous designer wool yarns. Chinese matte jade balls in honey and amber with vintage caps are strung with golden silk cord around the bottom, earthy green stone chips are sewn around the top. Buried deep in the soft wool are tiny swarovski crystals in topaz and peridot green that sparkle discreetly. Vintage glass leaves in chestnut and soft greens dangle and clink under the dusty green leather lace that finishes the outer edge. The soft mohair fur goatskin trim adds the final bit of magic luxury. I am honored that she dreamed this wrist cuff into existence specifically to be a giveaway prize on my humble blog. She even shared her...

I love pie. Fruit pie, chocolate pie, chicken pot pie ... you name it. But I am no culinary crackerjack and have yet to bake one. The closest I've attempted is stirring up an Easy as Dirt Chocolate Liqueur Pudding Pie . With Thanksgiving less than a week away, I am especially craving pumpkin desserts. I'm sticking to contributing a creamy corn casserole to the family dinner, but had I browsed the display cases of Etsy sooner, I may have ordered a homemade pumpkin pie instead. All of these baked goodies make my mouth water - and one of them isn't even edible! 1. Cinnamon-Sugar Top Crust Pumpkin Pie by Gretel's Oven 2. Handmade Spiced Pumpkin Pie, Soy Wax Candle by Pookaberry Candles 3. Homemade Mini Pies 4 pack by Monica's Crafty Corner 4. Pumpkin Pie Pops (12) Gift Set by Cakewalk Desserts

While most shops are bustling to prepare for their busiest season, Andrea of Beadmask is recovering from hers. Her unique leather masks are a monster hit for Halloween costumes. This year she rewarded her customers with a virtual costume contest . People were encouraged to submit a photo of them wearing an item handmade by her. The picture with the most facebook likes received a $50 gift card to her Etsy shop! As much fun as she has crafting masks for fabulous souls, she just can't maintain that pace for longer than a couple of months. Her hands (and mind) need a rest from mask making, so she's fallen into focusing on autumn inspired hair accessories. The burgundy oak leaf barrette leather clip with bronze spiral veins above is just one enchanting example. She also confided, "In addition to making hair toys, I’m excited to play with my beads again. Beadwork is such a meditative art form. It is slow and reflective – perfect for the transition to winter!" Disclaimer: ...

"Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree" - Emily Bronte Flutter to my Wordless Wednesday Directory for a list of blogs that regularly host WW Linky Parties. Grab my button as a reminder to return next week for more photography fun! <a href="http://blog.aquariann.com/search/label/wordless%20wednesday" target="_blank"><img src="http://i532.photobucket.com/albums/ee329/aquariann/blog/wordless/125x125-wordless.jpg" alt="Wordless Wednesday" border="0" /></a>

Last Sunday I fluttered to FaerieCon to flock among fellow fairies. I made a beeline to meet two charmingly lovely ladies of the Fantasy Artists of Etsy team, Lithia and Sarah , and then flitted about in a bit of a daze. My eyes danced from fantasy art to soft sculptures to lace up corsets to steampunk accessories - my brain could barely process all the magical sights. Thank goodness my Ogre was there to ground me just enough to let me float down the aisles over and over again. And stop me from twirling into other elements, as I didn't have peripheral vision while wearing my amazing masquerade mask by Beadmask . He even stood patiently while I sat in line to get my very first fHairy Strands by Dancing Hands. If you look closely at the upper right of my photograph, there's a sparkle where the light has caught one of them shining in my hair. fHairy Strands are thin hair tinsel that is tied to just one single thread of hair using a cute pixie pick akin to a small crochet hook. ...

EDIT: Giveaway is officially closed. Congratulations to the randomly chosen 28th commenter, Berendina Dykema! Just the thought of winter makes me shiver, and the solstice is still more than a month away! One lucky lady will get to stay warm and stylish for free this coming season. Lily of MyHobbyShop is giving away a custom crochet hat, embellished with a removable flower pin. The beautiful beanie above is crocheted with red and silver yarn for Christmas, but the winner will get to choose her own colors. Lily is a busy woman, so it's a miracle she has time for hobbies. Not only does she work full time while pursuing Bachelors & Masters degrees, but she has a high school sweetheart, three active teenagers and an adorable miniature dachshund named Princess Olivia at home. Her mother taught her to crochet when she was barely a teenager herself and she has had a healthy case of yarn obsession ever since. In addition to hats, she designs unique crocheted scarves, hair accessories, ...

"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us." - Bill Watterson Flutter to my Wordless Wednesday Directory for a list of blogs that regularly host WW Linky Parties. Grab my button as a reminder to return next week for more photography fun! <a href="http://blog.aquariann.com/search/label/wordless%20wednesday" target="_blank"><img src="http://i532.photobucket.com/albums/ee329/aquariann/blog/wordless/125x125-wordless.jpg" alt="Wordless Wednesday" border="0" /></a>

The weather yesterday was so radiant and warm - I almost forgot it was November, until the sky went dark before 5pm. *shakes talons at Daylight Saving Time* Hayley of Hayley's Paper Love captured a sunny yellow day of her own. A spa gift set, a robot wall calendar and my steampunk unicorn warrior to guard your fridge are just a few of the handmade items that could brighten your life. Treasuries shared by readers between November 8 - November 14 What a Sunny Day! Surprise me! Variations on a Theme Remembrance Day Quails Run What's New? Green With Envy Owls! Why it is important Christmas Gift Guide Snow White Ode to Pumpkin Pie Gift Guide Bohemian Gypsy Under $100 A Woodland Tapestry Fall Foliage for the Little Ones Does Christmas have to be red and green? Delicate Saturday Night Specials Holiday Gifts

Halloween may have swept by like a bat out of Hades, but I'm already planning next year's costume. I had such fun at Gemz of Arabia's Haflaween belly dancing event at Circles that I'm hoping to attend another next year. Which means I need to incorporate a hip scarf into my costume so I can shake and shimmy on the dance floor. Thanks to an Amazon gift card I earned by sharing links through Crowdtap , I bought a sensational shining scale paillettes hip scarf in green to embellish a mermaid or dragon costume. Since I already went splashing around Etsy for mermaid costumes , I dried off my wings and took to the skies. I had to circle around these leather masks and scaly arm accessories to get a better look. 1. Dragon Mask - Any Color, Leather (Green shown) by The Mummers Cat 2. Crochet Crocodile Stitch Set Unique Slouch Beanie and Matching Unique Armwarmers Spring Green by Creations By CReid 3. Scale Maille Gauntlets Knitted Dragonhide Armor Black Forest available ...

"Earth laughs in flowers." - Ralph Waldo Emerson Flutter to my Wordless Wednesday Directory for a list of blogs that regularly host WW Linky Parties. Grab my button as a reminder to return next week for more photography fun! <a href="http://blog.aquariann.com/search/label/wordless%20wednesday" target="_blank"><img src="http://i532.photobucket.com/albums/ee329/aquariann/blog/wordless/125x125-wordless.jpg" alt="Wordless Wednesday" border="0" /></a>

EDIT: Giveaway is officially closed. Congratulations to the randomly chosen 43rd commenter, Kathy Detweiler! Donna of Lavender Rabbit is offering one lucky damsel the opportunity to take this dragon vein agate necklace captive. Dark purple veins run deep through the gorgeous brown agate bead. The unique stone clutches onto an antiqued silver-plated steel circle, wrapped by a gunmetal chain that closes with a lobster claw clasp. The Lavender Rabbit shop is hopping with herds of handmade jewelry, from earrings featuring flowers and cute creatures to wraparound beaded cuff bracelets. Donna crafts her designs in her den where her adorable bunnies nose-bonk her ankles. At first, she just made jewelry for herself - but when they ran out of room, her husband started selling it at his work. Now that the demand is so high, her husband helps and works on his own jewelry creations, too. How To Enter The Giveaway Giveaway is open worldwide to entrants at least 18 years old. I will be pulling a nu...